Coin receiving apparatus for a vending machine

Abstract

A coin receiving apparatus for a vending machine is disclosed which has a coin detector for producing an output corresponding to the diameter of a deposited coin. One or more additional coin detectors of a differential transformer type are sequentially arranged adjacent to the coin diameter detector in the coin detection path for producing an output corresponding to coin characteristics other than the coin diameter. A coin determination circuit judges whether the deposited coin is true or false in response to the detected outputs from the respective coin detectors. A coin receipt control circuit responsive to the true or false judgement output from the coin determination circuit controls the receipt or return of the deposited coin. The deposited coin is received in the receiving apparatus if the detected outputs from all of the coin detectors indicate that the deposited coin is true. A successive deposit determination circuit judges whether the last deposited coin passes through an initial coin detector on the coin detection path before the preceding deposited coin passes through a final coin detector. A timer starts to operate when the deposited coin passes through the final coin detector and responsive to an output of the successive deposit determination circuit. A determination output control circuit applies the true judgement output from the coin determination circuit to the coin receipt control circuit only when the timer does not operate after the deposited coin passes through the final coin detector. The coin receiving apparatus having such a successive deposit determination circuit, timer and determination output control circuit reduces the coin return ratio.

I claim: 
     
       1. In a coin receiving apparatus for use in a vending machine having a first coin detector for producing an output corresponding to the diameter of a deposited coin, said coin diameter detector including a coil arranged adjacent to a coin detection path so that the magnetic flux thereof is substantially perpendicular to the diameter of the deposited coin passing through the coin detection path, at least one additional coin detector of a differential transformer type sequentially arranged adjacent to said coin diameter detector in the coin detection path, each at least one additional coin detector producing an output corresponding to coin characteristics other than coin diameter, coin determination means for judging whether the deposited coin is true or false in response to the detected outputs from said respective coin detectors and providing a true or a false judgement output signal, and coin receipt control means responsive to the true or false judgment output signal of said coin determination means for controlling the receipt or return of the deposited coin, whereby the deposited coin is received in the receiving apparatus if the judgment output signal is true and is returned if the judgment output signal is false, the improvement comprising: successive deposit determination means for outputting a successive deposit indication signal when a second deposited coin passes an initial coin detector before a first deposited coin passes a final coin detector, said initial and final coin detectors each being one of the coin detectors arranged adjacent to the coin detection path, and the first deposited coin being deposited before the second deposited coin,   timer means for generating a timing pulse, the timer means starting to operate when the first deposited coin passes through said final coin detector and said successive deposit determination means outputs a successive deposit indication signal, and   determination output control means coupled to the timer means for applying the judgment output signal from said coin determination means to said coin receipt control means when said timer means does not generate the timing pulse.   
     
     
       2. The coin receiving apparatus of claim 1 wherein the timing pulse generated by said timer means has a predetermined length of time related to the length of time a first deposited coin takes to pass from said final coin detector to an inlet of a true coin path whereby the operation of the true coin path inlet is delayed until the first coin passes the true coin path inlet. 
     
     
       3. In a coin receiving apparatus for a coin operated machine having a first coin detector for producing an output corresponding to the diameter of a deposited coin, said first coin detector including a coil arranged adjacent to a coin detection path such that magnetic flux generated by the coil substantially crosses the diameter of the deposited coin as it passes through the coin detection path; at least one additional coin detector of a differential transformer type sequentially arranged adjacent to said coin diameter detector means in the coin detection path for producing at least one additional output corresponding to coin characteristics other than coin diameter; coin determination means, responsive to the output of said coin detectors including said first coin detector, for determining whether the deposited coin is true or false and outputting a true or a false judgment signal based on that determination; and coin receipt control means, responsive to the true or false judgment signal output of the coin determination means, for controlling the receipt or return of the deposited coin, whereby the deposited coin is received by the receiving apparatus if the judgment signal is true and is returned if the judgment signal is false, the improvement comprising: successive deposit determination means, responsive to an initial coin detector and a final coin detector, for determining whether a second deposited coin passes the initial coin detector before a first deposited coin passes the final coin detector, said initial and final coin detectors each being one of the coin detectors arranged adjacent to the coin detection path, and the first deposited coin being deposited before the second deposited coin,   timer means, responsive to the final coin detector and the successive deposit determination means, for timing a predetermined interval of time, and   determination signal control means, responsive to the successive deposit determination means, the final coin detector and the timer means, for providing the output of the coin determination means to the coin receipt control means.   
     
     
       4. The coin receiving apparatus of claim 3 wherein the predetermined interval of time timed by the timer means is related to the length of time required for the deposited coin to travel from the final coin detector to an inlet of a true coin path controlled by the coin receipt control means. 
     
     
       5. A coin receiving apparatus comprising: first coin detector means for detecting the diameter of a deposited coin as the deposited coin passes through a coin detection path and outputting a signal corresponding to the diameter of the deposited coin;   at least one additional coin detector means for detecting coin characteristics other than coin diameter as the deposited coin passes through the coin detection path and outputting at least one additional signal corresponding to detected characteristics of the deposited coin;   coin authenticity decision means, responsive to the signal output from the first coin detector means and the at least one additional signal output from the at least one additional coin detector means, for determining whether a deposited coin is authentic and outputting an authentic coin signal if the deposited coin is determined to be authentic;   consecutive deposit determination means, responsive to the first coin detector means and the at least one additional coin detector means, for outputting a consecutive deposit signal when a first deposited coin is detected by one of the at least one additional coin detector means after a second deposited coin is detected by the first coin detector means and outputting a consecutive deposit signal;   timer means, responsive to the consecutive deposit signal, for outputting a timer signal having a predetermined length of time; and   coin acceptance control means, responsive to the authentic coin signal, consecutive deposit signal and the timer signal, for controlling the acceptance or rejection of a deposited coin, whereby a deposited coin is accepted when the authentic signal is present and no consecutive deposit signal and timer signal are present, and is rejected when a consecutive deposit signal and timer signal are present.   
     
     
       6. The coin receiving apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least one additional coin detector means includes at least one differential transformer. 
     
     
       7. The coin receiving apparatus of claim 5, wherein the consecutive deposit determination means includes counters responsive to the signals output from the first coin detector means and the at least one additional signal output from the at least one additional coin detector means. 
     
     
       8. The coin receiving apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a coin acceptance means, responsive to the coin acceptance control means, for accepting or rejecting a deposited coin. 
     
     
       9. The coin receiving apparatus of claim 5, wherein the coin authenticity decision means includes window means for comparing the output signals of the first coin detector means and the at least one coin detector means to associated upper and lower limits, the upper limit and lower limits associated with the first coin detector means corresponding to an expected output for an authentic deposited coin, and the upper limit and lower limits associated with each of the at least one additional coin detector means corresponding to an expected output for an authentic deposited coin. 
     
     
       10. The coin receiving apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first coin detector means is arranged along the coin detection path as the initial coin detection means the deposited coin passes and the at least one additional coin detector means to which the consecutive deposit determination means is responsive is arranged along the coin detection path as the final coin detector means the deposited coin passes.